I would love to learn how to use the poi. I have seen people do them on You tube and I think it would be great excercise for my arms and fun at the same time. Not too sure about fire but if I could get a "glowstick" like set that would be cool.

I have some glow poi I play with.... I started on poi, but I really prefer fan, personally. ^__^ Very similar moves, but for some reason the rigid fans suit me better.

Home Of Poi are New Zealand based, so they mightn't be convenient for you to buy from (haven't checked your location....) but they do have a great library of lessons. You can make practice poi out of a couple of tennis balls and some panyhose, and it's not at all hard to find glow poi (and just regular sock poi...) on EBay.

Hi. They offer aerial work at my yoga studio taught by the Detroit Flyhouse.
http://www.detroitflyhouse.com/

I tried a couple of sessions when they first started and loved it but found it incredibly hard because of a lack of upper body strength as well has having 50 lbs and 25 years on most of the other participants. I'm currently working on upper body strength and will be going back.

As a side note: I have a special interest because my mother was actually a circus performer on silks.

I'm lucky, here in Sydney there are actually a couple of *big* aerials schools to choose from, and they have many levels of classes. Plus, the instructors at Aerialize at least are great for giving lots of options so you can take it as far as you feel comfortable -- so me, for example, I'm flexible, extremely confident in my leg strength, and comfortable being upside-down, but very weak in my upper body. In the same class are a couple of guys who could seriously climb the tissu to the ceiling hand-over-hand if anyone let them but who can't touch their toes to save themselves, a few ladies who are happily creeping into middle-age and carrying quite a lot of excess weight, and everything in between, and they do manage to cater to everyone, without holding anyone back or leaving anyone behind. It's rather impressive!

My nan was a circus performer, too! She flew acro and teeterboard, until she was dropped in her late teens and badly broke her leg. : ( So, she's forbidden me from doing teeterboard, but anything else is fair game!

Panty hose and tennis balls! Who would have thought it. lol I will have to try that! Thanks for the tip

Hahaha, my pleasure.

I only know because a friend of mine always asked if he could have my laddered pantyhose for making poi. XD It would be a very creepy request from anyone but this guy.